Mobile telephone fitted with a pivotal camera

ABSTRACT

A mobile telephone with a camera, a casing, a display and a keypad for entering manual commands is disclosed. The camera is permanently attached to at least a part of the keypad in a subcomponent of the casing, wherein the subcomponent within a chassis of the casing is designed in such a way that it can be swiveled about at least one axis relative to the display, and the chassis at least partly surrounds the subcomponent.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a mobile telephone with camera,comprising at least a casing, a display and a keypad for entering manualcommands.

An increasing number of mobile telephones are currently being equippedwith cameras, in order that photographs can be recorded and transferredin addition to text messages and voice messages. In the case of mobiletelephones with cameras, a plurality of requirements must be considered.

The camera should be attached on or in the mobile telephone in such away that the typical device design of a mobile telephone is retained.Hence the additional camera should not increase the external dimensionsof the mobile telephone, since this would adversely affect the feeland/or handling of the mobile telephone, for example. It is thereforeassumed that particularly small camera modules are attached on/in mobiletelephones. However, this conflicts with the desire of the end customerfor high-resolution and high-quality camera modules. These high-qualitycamera modules normally have larger dimensions than low-quality smallercamera modules.

When equipping a mobile telephone with a camera, there is a furtherrequirement that both recordings of the surroundings and self-portraitrecordings of the mobile telephone user should be possible. In order tobe able to check the correct recording field/position field of theobject which is to be photographed, a “check picture” should be visiblein the display of the mobile telephone. For this, the camera should bepositioned rotatably in a swivel range of approximately 180 degrees.

There is also a need to protect the optical components of the cameraagainst dirt and scratches when it is not in use.

Solutions and pointers to solutions for equipping a mobile telephonewith a camera already exist. However, these previous solutions andpointers to solutions do not satisfy or only partly satisfy the abovementioned requirements. These solutions and pointers to solutions arebriefly introduced below:

One possibility for providing a camera with mobile telephone consists inintegrating the camera in a separate plug-on module. This plug-onmodule, which is generally designed to be rotatable, is coupled onto amobile telephone as required. A disadvantage of this solution is thatthe camera is integrated in the plug-on module and not in the mobiletelephone. As a result of increasing the overall dimensions when theplug-on module is accommodated, the handling of a mobile telephone isgenerally impractical and unwieldy. Therefore, for reasons ofconvenience, the separate plug-on module is not generally carried by themobile telephone owner.

A further possibility consists in integrating a camera on the back ofthe mobile telephone, such that the camera is generally located on theopposite side to the mobile telephone display. In order to protect thecamera lens from scratches, a sliding cover for the camera optics isalready used in this camera integration possibility. A disadvantage ofthis solution is that self-portrait recordings of the mobile telephoneuser are only possible without provision for checking the camerarecordings in the display of the mobile telephone.

An improvement to the “integration of a camera on the back of the mobiletelephone” would be the integration of two cameras on the front and theback of the mobile telephone respectively. This solution has theadvantage that it allows both recordings of the surroundings andself-portrait recordings of the mobile telephone user, wherein themobile telephone user can see the camera recordings in the display ofthe mobile telephone. Firstly the increased space required for twocamera modules, and secondly the increased cost factor of the “double”number of camera modules, have a disadvantageous effect. Moreover, theintegration of two cameras in the mobile telephone means that costsrelating to the protective mechanism for the camera optics will bedoubled.

A further known camera integration possibility is used in mobiletelephones consisting of two halves which can be pushed together. Inthis case, the camera is integrated in one half. In the closed state,the camera is protected between the halves against scratching of theoptical parts. In this solution, self-portrait recordings of the mobiletelephone user are again only possible without provision for checkingthe camera recordings in the display of the mobile telephone.Furthermore, the thickness of the mobile telephone is particularly greatin this camera integration possibility, thereby making the mobiletelephone unwieldy.

A good solution for camera integration is currently implemented inmobile telephones of the “clamshell design”. In this case, the camera isrotatably integrated into the hinged joint of the two “mobile telephonehalves”. This mobile telephone allows recordings of the surroundings aswell as self-portrait recordings with concurrent viewing of the mobiletelephone display. The disadvantage of this solution is that only verysmall camera modules and therefore low-quality camera modules can beused, since the diameter of the hinged joint otherwise becomesunacceptably large.

SUMMARY

The disclosed mobile telephone in which a high-resolution andhigh-quality camera is integrated in the mobile telephone in such a waythat the typical device design of a mobile telephone is retained andboth recordings of the surroundings and self-portrait recordings of themobile telephone user are made possible, wherein the camera recordingscan be viewed in the display of the mobile telephone by the mobiletelephone user and the camera optics are protected against dirt andscratches when the camera function is not in use.

The inventors have recognized that, even in mobile telephones which arenot constructed according to the “clamshell design”, a new swivelmechanism allows the integration into the mobile telephone of ahigh-resolution and therefore generally larger camera than the cameraswhich were previously used in clamshell mobile telephones, withoutchanging the typical device design of a mobile telephone. Moreover, thisallows both recordings of the surroundings and self-portrait recordingsof the mobile telephone user, wherein the camera recordings can beviewed in the display of the mobile telephone.

This disclosure proposes to improve a mobile telephone with camera,comprising at least a casing, a display and a keypad for entering manualcommands, to the effect that the camera is permanently attached to atleast a part of the keypad in a subcomponent of the casing, wherein thesubcomponent within a chassis of the casing is designed in such a waythat it can be swiveled about at least one axis relative to the display,and the chassis at least partly surrounds the subcomponent.

This embodiment of the mobile telephone has the following features.Firstly, by positioning the subcomponent in such a way that the camerais preferably arranged between the chassis and the casing, any action ofdirt on the camera optics is prevented. Secondly, the swivelable designof the subcomponent extends the scanning range of the camera while themobile telephone display can simultaneously be used as a checkingscreen.

It is beneficial having the mobile telephone featuring a subcomponentthat can be swiveled in an angle range of up to 90 degrees, preferablyin an angle range of up to 180 degrees, in one swivel direction and inthe opposite axial swivel direction. This allows recordings to be madeat different angles, and the display or the camera to be adapted to theneeds of the mobile telephone user.

The subcomponent should be designed in such a way that it can beswiveled about an axis that is oriented parallel or perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the mobile telephone. This makes it particularlyeasy to orient the display on the horizontal or the vertical plane.

Alternatively, the subcomponent may be designed in such a way that itcan be swiveled about an axis which runs diagonal to the longitudinalaxis of the mobile telephone, preferably about an axis which runs at 45degrees to the longitudinal axis. In particular, if the subcomponentthen additionally has a rectangular cross-section, the advantage isderived that two sides of the rectangle are available as surfaces forthe fitting of camera optics and flashlight.

In order to increase the user friendliness of the different mobiletelephone functions such as telephoning or photographing, thesubcomponent may be designed in such a way that it can be engaged in atleast three positions. By means of this engagement, it is ensured thatthe subcomponent is held in a desired position and is not inadvertentlyrotated while the user executes a mobile telephone function. It isentirely possible for a plurality of “intermediate engagement positions”to be present between these three engagement positions.

In a first engagement position, the lens of the camera should beoriented in such a way that the user of the mobile telephone can scan anobject from the surroundings via the lens of the camera, andsimultaneously see this object in the display of the mobile telephone.Display and camera lens are therefore oriented on opposite sides of themobile telephone.

The second engagement position should be settable in such a way that theorientation of the subcomponent in relation to the display of the mobiletelephone allows a self-scan of the user by the user, via the lens ofthe camera, wherein the user can simultaneously see the self-portrait inthe display.

In the third engagement position, the lens of the camera is locatedbetween the chassis of the mobile telephone casing and the subcomponent.This engagement position is designed for conventional telephoning. Thekeypad of the mobile telephone is accessible in this engagementposition.

At least one slidable and/or swivelable protective panel can be arrangedon the subcomponent, in order to protect the camera lens against damage.This element can be protected against dirt and scratches, therefore,even in the engagement positions one and two when the camera lens is notarranged between the subcomponent and the chassis of the casing.

The subcomponent of the casing should be designed in such a way that itcan be removed from the remainder of the casing of the mobile telephone.The camera of the mobile telephone is integrated in the subcomponent. Byvirtue of this removable design, the camera can be used independently ofthe remainder of the mobile telephone. Due to the compact externaldimensions of the subcomponent, whose sides are only few centimeters inlength, the subcomponent containing the camera can be concealed in roomsand used for monitoring said rooms and then photographically capturingone or more room recordings.

Both the subcomponent and the remaining casing of the mobile telephoneshould each have a power supply. It is thus possible to ensure that, forexample, if the camera function is temporarily unavailable as a resultof an empty battery due to taking a multiplicity of photographs, themobile telephone can still be used for the purpose of telephony.

It is beneficial if the subcomponent and the remaining casing of themobile telephone each has an interface, preferably a radio connectioninterface such as Bluetooth, for example, via which the two partsintercommunicate. It is thus possible for the part component containingthe camera module to exchange data, e.g. picture data, with theremaining mobile telephone, even over specified distances.

The present disclosure is described in greater detail below withreference to disclosed embodiments and to the FIGS. 1 to 12, wherein thefollowing abbreviations are used in the Figs: 1: mobile telephone; 2:loudspeaker; 3: camera button; 4: display of the mobile telephone; 4.1:swivelable display; 5: keypad for menu input; 5.1: key of the menu inputkeypad; 6: keypad for numeric/alphabetic input; 6.1: key of thenumeric/alphabetic input pad; 7: microphone; 8: casing of the mobiletelephone; 8.1: swivelable subcomponent of the casing; 8.1.1: engagementposition “one” of the subcomponent; 8.1.2: engagement position “two” ofthe subcomponent; 8.1.3: engagement position “three” of thesubcomponent; 8.2: removable and swivelable subcomponent of the casing;8.3 chassis of the casing 8, which surrounds the subcomponents 8.1 and8.2; 9.1: swivel axis running parallel to the longitudinal axis of themobile telephone; 9.2: swivel axis running perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the mobile telephone; 9.3: swivel axis runningdiagonal to the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone; 10: cameralens; 11: flashlight; 12: distance sensor; 13: slot for SIM card(SIM=Subscriber Identify Module); 14: plug socket for interface; 15:protective panel for camera lens; 16: interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile telephone in a plan view of the display andthe keypad.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile telephone with swiveled subcomponent of thecasing, said subcomponent having an integrated camera.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile telephone as shown in FIG. 2, but with thesubcomponent of the casing being swiveled in the opposite direction.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mobile telephone including subcomponent withintegrated camera, said subcomponent being swivelable perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone.

FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile telephone as shown in FIG. 4, but with thesubcomponent of the casing being swiveled in the opposite direction.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile telephone in a plan view of the display andthe keypad, wherein all keys are integrated in the subcomponent.

FIG. 7 illustrates a mobile telephone as shown in FIG. 6, with thesubcomponent being swiveled to the left.

FIG. 8 illustrates a mobile telephone as shown in FIG. 6, but with thesubcomponent being swiveled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe mobile telephone.

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile telephone as shown in FIG. 7, with theswivel axis of the subcomponent being laterally offset.

FIG. 10 illustrates a mobile telephone including subcomponent whoseswivel axis runs diagonally;

FIG. 11 illustrates a mobile telephone including subcomponent which isremovable from casing.

FIG. 12 illustrates a mobile telephone in which the chassis only partlysurrounds the subcomponent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a view of the operating surface of a novel mobile telephone1 with camera. The camera of the mobile telephone 1 is not visible inthis view. Only the camera button 3 on the top right-hand side of thecasing 8 of the mobile telephone 1 indicates the presence of the camera.In much the same way as known mobile telephones 1, this “camera phone”has a loudspeaker 2 at the upper edge area of the casing 8 and amicrophone 7 at the lower edge area, for outputting and inputtingacoustic signals including voice signals. The upper half of the casing 8contains a display 4, in which functional operations of the mobiletelephone 1 can be viewed optically, e.g. incoming call and menuoverview of the mobile telephone 1. This display 4 can be a color TFTdisplay, for example. In the center part of the casing 8 of the mobiletelephone 1 is the keypad 5 for menu input using the keys 5.1. The keys5.1 of the menu input keypad make it possible to switch between themenus of the mobile telephone 1. In the lower part of the casing 8 arethe keys 6.1 on the keypad 6 for numeric/alphabetic input, said keysallowing the selection or depression of the numbers 0 to 9 and theletters a to z. The keys 6.1 can be used to press the selection digitswhen making a telephone connection, for example, or to enter the letterswhen writing a text message (commonly abbreviated as SMS).

The particularity of this mobile telephone 1 is that a subcomponent 8.1of the casing 8 of the mobile telephone 1 is designed to be swivelablewithin a chassis 8.3. The camera is integrated in this subcomponent 8.1.The keypad 6 for numeric/alphabetic input is also integrated in thisswivelable subcomponent 8.1. In this illustration, the subcomponent 8.1is in the engagement position “three” 8.1.3, which means that the cameraof the mobile telephone 1 is protected between subcomponent 8.1 andcasing 8 of the mobile telephone 1. In the engagement position “three”8.1.3, the mobile telephone can be used according to its functionalityfor telephoning or exchanging text messages.

In order to be able to record photographs using this mobile telephone 1,the camera between the subcomponent 8.1 and the chassis 8.3 of thecasing 8 of the mobile telephone 1 is “opened” by swiveling thesubcomponent 8.1.

The camera lens 10 can now be seen in FIG. 2. In order to achieve this,the subcomponent 8.1 was swiveled through 90 degrees to the right aboutthe swivel axis 9.1 which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of themobile telephone 1, by means of a light pressure with the fingers on theright-hand side of the keypad 6 for the numeric input. A furtherengagement position “three” 8.1.3 also exists in this position of thesubcomponent 8.1, thereby ensuring that the camera lens 10 is notinadvertently jarred by rotation of the subcomponent 8.1 when recordingpictures. The engagement position “three” 8.1.3 is suitable for therecording of self-portraits of the mobile telephone user. In thisengagement position “three” 8.1.3, both the camera lens 10 and thedisplay 4 of the mobile telephone 1 can be seen at the same time by themobile telephone user. The subcomponent 8.1 also includes a flashlight11 for nighttime recordings and a distance sensor 12, which measures thedistance from the object to be photographed to the camera lens and thenadjusts the focus of the camera lens 10 accordingly.

FIG. 3 shows a mobile telephone 1 which allows recordings to be made ofthe surroundings. In order to achieve this, the subcomponent 8.1 of themobile telephone 1 from FIG. 1 was swiveled through 90 degrees to theleft about the swivel axis 9.1 which runs parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the mobile telephone 1, by means of a light pressure with thefingers on the left-hand side of the keypad 6 for the numeric input. Anengagement position “two” 8.1.2 also exists in this position of thesubcomponent 8.1. This engagement position “two” 8.1.2 is suitable forrecording photographs of the surroundings. In this engagement positionof the subcomponent 8.1, the camera lens is arranged on the oppositeside of the display 4. A picture can be photographed by pressing thecamera button 3. The slot 13 for the SIM card and the plug socket 14 forthe interface, which are opposite the camera lens, are visible in thisview.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of the novel mobile telephone 1in different engagement positions of the subcomponent 8.1. Differingfrom the FIGS. 1 to 3, the subcomponent 8.1 is now swivelable about anaxis 9.2 which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mobiletelephone 1. In FIG. 4, the subcomponent 8.1 is illustrated in theengagement position “two” 8.1.2, which is suitable for makingself-portrait recordings of the mobile telephone user. The display 4 andthe camera lens 10 are visible on the same side of the casing 8. In FIG.5, the subcomponent 8.1 is rotated through 180 degrees in comparisonwith the illustration in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a further embodiment of the novel mobile telephone 1in different engagement positions of the subcomponent 8.1. In thisembodiment, the design of the swivelable subcomponent 8.1 is larger thanin FIGS. 1 to 5, such that both the keypad 5 for menu input and thekeypad 6 for numeric/alphabetic input, together with the camera and thecamera lens, the flashlight, the distance sensor 12, the slot 13 for theSIM card and the plug socket for the interface 14 are integrated in thesubcomponent 8.1.

In FIG. 6, the subcomponent 8.1 is in the engagement position “three”8.1.3, in which the mobile telephone can be used according to itsfunctionality for telephoning or exchanging text messages.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the subcomponent 8.1 in each case is illustrated inthe engagement position “one” 8.1.1, wherein the subcomponent 8.1 isdesigned to be swivelable about an axis 9.1 in FIG. 7 and about an axis9.2 in FIG. 8.

Two further variants of the configuration of the swivelable subcomponent8.1 are illustrated in the FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, the subcomponent8.1 is swivelable about an axis 9.1 which runs parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the mobile telephone 1, but is offset to the leftrelative to the center axis. In FIG. 10, the axis 9.3, about which thesubcomponent is designed to swivel, runs diagonal to the longitudinalaxis of the mobile telephone 1. Both embodiments have the advantagethat, as a result of the increased leverage which derives from thegreater distance between the center of pressure for locking/unlockingthe subcomponent 8.1 and the center of rotation, a movement of thesubcomponent 8.1 between the engagement positions (8.1.1 to 8.1.3)requires less force.

FIG. 11 shows a further special embodiment of the novel mobile telephone1. In this embodiment, the subcomponent 8.2 on the right-hand side inFIG. 11 is designed to be removable from the casing 8 of the mobiletelephone 1. It is therefore possible to locate the removablesubcomponent 8.2 separately from the casing 8. The camera which isintegrated in the compact and small subcomponent 8.2 can therefore belocated in a concealed manner, such that it is not apparent that aphotographic recording is in progress. This is possible because thecasing 8 of the “remaining” mobile telephone 1, which includes theactual camera button 3 for “triggering” the camera, and the user of thecamera button 3 do not have to be in the vicinity of the camera.Interfaces 16 which are attached to the subcomponent 8.2 and to thecasing 8 of the mobile telephone 1 allow the exchange of data orcommunication between the removable subcomponent 8.2 and the casing 8 ofthe “remaining” mobile telephone 1. In order to supply current to theseparate elements of the mobile telephone 1, the subcomponent 8.2 andthe casing 8 each have a dedicated power supply, e.g. in the form of alithium-ion battery. In order to protect the camera lens 10 from dirtand scratches, a protective panel 15 is also attached to thesubcomponent 8.2 in this embodiment, wherein said protective panel canbe slid in front of the camera lens 10 when the camera is not in use.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a novel mobile telephone 1 in which thesubcomponent 8.1 is only partly surrounded by the chassis 8.3 of thecasing 1.

In summary, therefore, the present disclosure provides a mobiletelephone with integrated camera, wherein a high-quality camera isintegrated in the mobile telephone such that the typical device designof a mobile telephone is retained and, moreover, both recordings of thesurroundings and self-portrait recordings of the mobile telephone userare possible, wherein the camera recordings can be viewed by the user inthe display of the mobile telephone, and furthermore the camera lens isprotected against dirt and scratches when the camera function is not inuse.

It is understood that the above-mentioned features of the presentdisclosure are not only applicable in the specified combinationconcerned, but also in other combinations or in isolation, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosureand without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A mobile telephone comprising: a casing; a display;a keypad for entering manual commands; and a camera configured topermanently attach to at least a part of the keypad in a subcomponent ofthe casing, wherein the subcomponent is located within a chassis of thecasing and configured such that it can be swiveled about at least oneaxis relative to the display, and the chassis at least partiallysurrounds the subcomponent.
 14. The mobile telephone as defined in claim13, wherein the subcomponent is configured to swivel through an anglerange of up to 90 degrees in one swivel direction and in an oppositeaxial swivel direction, respectively, for an angle range of up to 180degrees,
 15. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 13, wherein thesubcomponent is configured to swivel about an axis that is oriented oneof parallel or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mobiletelephone.
 16. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 13, wherein thesubcomponent is configured to swivel about an axis that runs diagonal tothe longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone.
 17. The mobile telephoneas defined in claim 16, wherein the axis runs at 45 degrees to thelongitudinal axis.
 18. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 13,wherein the subcomponent is configured to engage in at least threepositions.
 19. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 18, wherein in afirst engagement position of the at least three positions, a lens of thecamera is oriented in such a way that a user of the mobile telephone canscan an object from the surroundings via the lens of the camera, and theobject is simultaneously displayed by the display of the mobiletelephone.
 20. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 18, wherein in asecond engagement position of the at least three positions, the lens ofthe camera is oriented in such a way as to allow a self-scan of a userby the user via the lens of the camera, wherein a self-portrait of theuser is simultaneously displayed by the display of the mobile telephone.21. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 18, wherein in a thirdengagement position of the at least three positions, the lens of thecamera is located between the chassis of the mobile telephone and thesubcomponent.
 22. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 13, whereinat least one slidable and/or swivelable protective panel is arranged onthe subcomponent in order to protect a lens of the camera againstdamage.
 23. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 13, wherein thesubcomponent of the casing is configured to be removable from theremaining casing of the mobile telephone.
 24. The mobile telephone asdefined in claim 23 wherein both the subcomponent and the remainingcasing of the mobile telephone have a power supply.
 25. The mobiletelephone as defined in claim 23 wherein the subcomponent and theremaining casing of the mobile telephone each have an a radio connectioninterface.
 26. The mobile telephone as defined in claim 25, wherein theradio connection interface is a Bluetooth interface via which thesubcomponent and the remaining casing intercommunicate.